OBITUARY - Thomas J Yancey

OBITUARY - Thomas J Yancey

The pall of death has once again descended into the business ranks of Waynesboro . . . this time to remove one of the three oldest merchants of the city, Thomas J. Yancey, in his 78th year of life.Few indeed are the residents of the community that remember when the name Yancey was not associated with the grocery business her. Up until this last Christmas, when ill health removed him from active management of his present enterprise, the Wayne Grocery Company, Mr. Yancey was always "on the job", affable, likeable, friendly, and cheerful.He passed on at 12:15 this morning. Since Christmas he has been confined to his home, only once since that time being able to leave his bedroom and come to the downstairs floor.

Mr. Yancey was born on July 20, 1856, at Yancey Mills in Albermarle County, and came to Waynesboro when 18 years of age to work in the store of J. A. Patterson. This store was located on what is now the First National Bank Corner. Later he was employed in the store of J. B. Roden and in 1899 went into business for himself under the name of T. J. Yancey and Co,In the year 1908, Mr. Yancey secured the lot where the building occupied by the Kroger store now stands and built there and also on Wayne Avenue down to the Culton store where the Gas company is now located. The present First National Bank structure was erected at this time also.Mr. Yancey sold this property about five years ago with the intention of retiring from business but after a few months he began to grow restless for the routine of the store and re-opened as the Wayne Grocery Co. in the L. B. & B. building on Wayne Avenue.

Family Survives

Mr. Yancey was married to Mattie C. Hanger of this city and had one daughter, Miss Annie Yancey, and two sons, C. K. Yancey, clerk Augusta County Board of Supervisors and Henry Yancey, city manager of Petersburg. All these survive him. Mrs. Yancey died in 1923 and Mr. Yancey married a second time three years later to Mrs. Ida Moose of Richmond, who survives him. Mr. Yancey has one brother, R. A. Yancey of Yancey's Mills who is 84 years of age and is quite active and who likewise survives.Long a member of the Main Street Methodist church, Mr. Yancey lent himself to all religious and civic enterprises, during his long residence here, which contributed to Waynesboro's growth and progress. He will be deeply missed in the community.